College
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Keywords
Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Pregnancy, ZIP codes, Prenatal care, Southern New Jersey, Health disparities
Date of Presentation
5-1-2025 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Maternal mortality remains a pressing public health concern in the United States, with significant disparities influenced by geography and social determinants of health. This study investigates the relationship between zip code-level factors and maternal mortality rates (MMR) in New Jersey (NJ), a state with demographic and socioeconomic diversity. Using data from the NJ Department of Health, CDC, and recent literature, I identified patterns correlating higher MMR with areas experiencing poverty, limited access to healthcare, and predominantly minority populations. Counties such as Essex, Union, and Cumberland—classified as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)—exhibited particularly high vulnerability. These findings clearly show the need for zip code-targeted public health interventions that address systemic healthcare inequities and improve maternal care access in NJ’s most affected communities.
Disciplines
Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Inequality and Stratification | Maternal and Child Health | Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Regional Sociology | Women's Health
Included in
Health Services Administration Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Regional Sociology Commons, Women's Health Commons
Relationship Between Maternal Mortality and ZIP Code in New Jersey
Maternal mortality remains a pressing public health concern in the United States, with significant disparities influenced by geography and social determinants of health. This study investigates the relationship between zip code-level factors and maternal mortality rates (MMR) in New Jersey (NJ), a state with demographic and socioeconomic diversity. Using data from the NJ Department of Health, CDC, and recent literature, I identified patterns correlating higher MMR with areas experiencing poverty, limited access to healthcare, and predominantly minority populations. Counties such as Essex, Union, and Cumberland—classified as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)—exhibited particularly high vulnerability. These findings clearly show the need for zip code-targeted public health interventions that address systemic healthcare inequities and improve maternal care access in NJ’s most affected communities.
